1922
Kenneth
2016
Kenneth West
May 31, 1922 — December 4, 2016
Kenneth Gordon West
Kenneth G. “Ken” West, (Age 94) of Overland Park, KS, died December 4th, 2016 at his home. Memorial Services will be 1:00pm Thursday December 8th at St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church, 67th and Nall, Mission, KS. Ken was born May 31, 1922, in Meta, MO, and had lived in the Kansas City area since 1929. He graduated from Paseo High School, attended Commercial Art School, and joined “Hall Brothers” greeting cards (Hallmark Cards) in 1941, as a Litho retouch artist. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942, graduated from the Naval School of Photography, and served with the AntiSubmarine Development Squadron, Atlantic Fleet (ASDEVLANT), Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island. There he met his future wife, Lacy Wikle, from Huntsville, Alabama. She had enlisted in the Navy W.A.V.E.s in May, 1945 and was attached to Ken’s squadron. After the war, Ken returned to Hallmark Cards in June, 1946 as a Lithographic Cameraman. Lacy and Ken were married September 7, 1946, in Huntsville, Alabama. At Hallmark, Ken advanced through Supervisory positions and was appointed Manager of Photolithography in 1957. In 1962, he developed a unique, 6-color, art reproduction system for printing Hallmark greeting cards. In 1973, the Board of Directors elected him Corporate Vice President, Graphic Arts. He became Corporate Vice President for Graphic Services in 1977 and Corporate Vice President for Technical Development and Graphics Production in 1980. Ken was a member of the “Intersociety Color Council”, and a former Board Member of the “Graphic Arts Technical Foundation” (GATF). He was elected a lifetime member of the GATF “Society of Fellows” in 1978, (later known as the “Ben Franklin Society”). He was also a member of “The Technical Association of the Graphic Arts” (TAGA) and received the “TAGA Honors Award” in April, 1987 for his “Outstanding contributions to the Graphic Arts industry”. Ken also served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of The Kansas City Mental Health Foundation from 1978 to 1987. He was a member of St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church. Ken was devoted to his wife and family of four children. He retired from Hallmark Cards May 29, 1987. Survivors include Wife, Lacy West, Daughter, Fannie Lacy West Jr., Sons, William Merritt West, John Randolph West, Amarillo TX, Kenneth Gordon West, Jr., Fairfield, IA.
Kenneth G. “Ken” West, (Age 94) of Overland Park, KS, died December 4th, 2016 at his home. Memorial Services will be 1:00pm Thursday December 8th at St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church, 67th and Nall, Mission, KS. Ken was born May 31, 1922, in Meta, MO, and had lived in the Kansas City area since 1929. He graduated from Paseo High School, attended Commercial Art School, and joined “Hall Brothers” greeting cards (Hallmark Cards) in 1941, as a Litho retouch artist. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942, graduated from the Naval School of Photography, and served with the AntiSubmarine Development Squadron, Atlantic Fleet (ASDEVLANT), Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island. There he met his future wife, Lacy Wikle, from Huntsville, Alabama. She had enlisted in the Navy W.A.V.E.s in May, 1945 and was attached to Ken’s squadron. After the war, Ken returned to Hallmark Cards in June, 1946 as a Lithographic Cameraman. Lacy and Ken were married September 7, 1946, in Huntsville, Alabama. At Hallmark, Ken advanced through Supervisory positions and was appointed Manager of Photolithography in 1957. In 1962, he developed a unique, 6-color, art reproduction system for printing Hallmark greeting cards. In 1973, the Board of Directors elected him Corporate Vice President, Graphic Arts. He became Corporate Vice President for Graphic Services in 1977 and Corporate Vice President for Technical Development and Graphics Production in 1980. Ken was a member of the “Intersociety Color Council”, and a former Board Member of the “Graphic Arts Technical Foundation” (GATF). He was elected a lifetime member of the GATF “Society of Fellows” in 1978, (later known as the “Ben Franklin Society”). He was also a member of “The Technical Association of the Graphic Arts” (TAGA) and received the “TAGA Honors Award” in April, 1987 for his “Outstanding contributions to the Graphic Arts industry”. Ken also served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of The Kansas City Mental Health Foundation from 1978 to 1987. He was a member of St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church. Ken was devoted to his wife and family of four children. He retired from Hallmark Cards May 29, 1987. Survivors include Wife, Lacy West, Daughter, Fannie Lacy West Jr., Sons, William Merritt West, John Randolph West, Amarillo TX, Kenneth Gordon West, Jr., Fairfield, IA.
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